Exploding Fashion: From 2D to 3D to 3D Animation
MoMu and Central Saint Martins present 'Exploding Fashion'. The exhibition offers unprecedented insight into the role of innovative pattern-cutting in key examples of twentieth century fashion design.
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Description of the exhibition
'Exploding Fashion: From 2D to 3D to 3D Animation' is a research project at Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London) that explores how pattern-cutting in twentieth century fashion can be understood through the practices of making, unmaking and remaking.
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The project ‘explodes’ the mystique of the fashion design process in two ways. Firstly, it deconstructs the myth of the designer as sole creative genius by uncovering the intriguing role of the pattern cutter.
Composite photo of the Charles James dress 1/2
Testing the pattern pieces of the Charles James dress on the stand at the Costume Institute 2/2
Secondly, it reverse-engineers five historical designs by game-changing designers who were also innovative pattern cutters, digitally reanimating museum objects as moving images which visually narrate how these things were once made, and how they moved on the body.
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The designers are Madeleine Vionnet (1912-1939), Charles James (1928-1978), Cristóbal Balenciaga (1936-1968), Halston (1957-1983) and Comme des Garçons (1973-ongoing) and their garments are from the collections of the Palais Galliera (Paris, France), Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris, France), Costume Institute (New York, USA), Museum at FIT (New York, USA), Kyoto Costume Institute (Japan) and Victoria and Albert Museum (London, UK).
It is complimented by the publication, 'Exploding Fashion: Making, Unmaking, and Remaking Twentieth Century Fashion' (Lannoo), which includes over 200 illustrations, including key dress designs, photo-collages, innovative pattern-cuttings, pencil drawings and project documentation.
Exhibition under the lead of
Curators: Alistair O'Neill, Caroline Evans, Romy Cockx
Graphic design: Paul Boudens
Campaign image: Comme des Garçons dress, remade by pattern cutters at Central Saint Martins, © Photo: Liam Leslie.